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Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS) ·
Causes
·
Symptoms “Irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that causes · Abdominal
pain or discomfort, · Cramping
or bloating, and · Diarrhea
or constipation. Irritable
bowel syndrome is a long-term but manageable condition.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Topic Overview “The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is
not well understood. In IBS, the movement of the digestive tract is
impaired, but doctors can find no change in physical structure,
such as inflammation or tumors. The symptoms of IBS are thought to be related
to faulty communication between the brain and the intestinal tract,
which causes abnormal muscle contractions in the intestines.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Topic Overview “The immune system [seems to be similar to
food allergies, intolerances], which fights infection, may also be
involved.” “A person’s colon may
respond strongly to stimuli such as certain
foods [seems to be similar to food allergies, intolerances] or stress that would not bother most
people.” Serotonin and Gastrointestinal Function,
Depression, Anxiety “Recent research [this article was written in February, 2006] has
reported that ·
Serotonin is linked with normal gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Serotonin is a
neurotransmitter, or chemical, that delivers messages from one part of your
body to another. ·
Ninety-five percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the GI tract, and ·
The other 5 percent
is found in the brain. ·
Cells that line the inside
of the bowel work as transporters and carry
the serotonin out of the GI tract [dehydration affects the transporting
of neurotransmitters to the brain]. People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor activity, causing
abnormal levels of serotonin to exist
in the GI tract [sounds like certain types of depression]. As a result,
people with IBS experience problems with bowel movement, motility, and
sensation—having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract.” “In addition, people with IBS frequently suffer from depression and anxiety, which can worsen symptoms. Similarly, the symptoms
associated with IBS can cause a person to feel depressed and anxious [a
vicious cycle].” “Researchers have reported that ·
IBS
may be caused by a bacterial
infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies show that people who
have had gastroenteritis [a
pathological disturbance of the gastrointestinal tract] sometimes develop IBS, otherwise called post-infectious IBS ·
[other
causes of gastroenteritis, other than bacteria, are parasites, radiation, viruses, eating food that irritates the stomach lining and emotional upsets such as anger, fear, or stress].” Gluten
Intolerance/Celiac Disease “Researchers have also found very mild celiac disease in some people
with symptoms similar to IBS. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. [Some]
People with celiac disease cannot eat these foods without becoming very sick
because their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine [some people with celiac disease may not
have symptoms; others may not know their symptoms are from celiac disease].
A blood test can determine whether
celiac disease may be present. (For information about celiac disease, see NIDDK's Celiac Disease fact sheet.)” ·
Arousal: Allergies: More Information: Food Allergies and
Intolerances ·
The
Brain: Naturally Occurring Substances: Serotonin ·
Depression: Dehydration: Tryptophan,
Serotonin, Melatonin, Histamine · “The
main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are
· Many
people with IBS have alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea,
· IBS
is one of the most common intestinal disorders. Most people's symptoms
are so mild that they never see a doctor for treatment. However, some
people may have troublesome symptoms, especially abdominal cramps,
bloating, and diarrhea.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Topic Overview Things to Consider · “Irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term (chronic) but manageable condition. · Treatment
· It
is important that you work closely with your health professional to create
a treatment plan that will meet your needs. Learn all you can about your
condition so you can effectively communicate concerns and questions to your
health professional…” · “No
single type of treatment for irritable bowel syndrome works best for
everyone.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Treatment Overview Diet Diet: Tips “Increasing fiber in your diet may
help relieve constipation.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Treatment Overview ·
Other Suggestions:
Dehydration: Effects: Constipation Diet: Things to Avoid “For some people who have IBS,
certain foods may trigger symptoms. The following suggestions may help
prevent or relieve some IBS symptoms: · Avoid
caffeine. · Limit your
intake of fatty foods. Fats increase gut sensations, which can make
abdominal pain seem worse. · If diarrhea
is your main symptom, limit dairy products, fruit [or foods
that contain fructose], or the artificial sweetener sorbitol.
· Avoiding
foods such as beans, cabbage, or uncooked cauliflower or
broccoli can help relieve bloating or gas.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Treatment
Overview “Two new studies provide evidence to support what many
people with IBS already know – fructose and fat can set off symptoms.
Fructose is a type of sugar found in many fruits, and fat, as most of us
know, is found in just about anything that tastes good. Researchers
estimate that as many as one half of people with IBS are intolerant to
fructose. ·
The first study found that
a small sample of people with IBS who eliminated fructose from their diet had
a decrease in symptoms. ·
In the second study
researchers showed that fat may cause problems not only for people with IBS,
but also for those with dyspepsia [upper abdominal discomfort] or other
functional gastrointestinal disorders.” About.com:
Irritable Bowel/Crohn's Disease: 'New Studies on Fructose and Fat as IBS
Triggers' Aerobic Exercise “Getting regular, vigorous exercise
(such as swimming, jogging, or brisk walking) may help reduce tension and
make your bowels more regular.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Treatment Overview Medications “Medications such as · loperamide
(Imodium) for diarrhea, · tegaserod
(Zelnorm) for constipation, or · antianxiety
agents such as paroxetine (Paxil) may be used along with lifestyle
changes to manage symptoms of IBS.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Treatment Overview Stress “If stress triggers your symptoms,
some form of psychological therapy or stress management may help you deal
more positively with stress and help prevent or reduce stress-related IBS
episodes.” WebMD: Health Topics: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Treatment
Overview Depression and Fructose
Malabsorption “Fructose malabsorption
is characterized by the inability to absorb fructose efficiently. As a
consequence fructose reaches the colon where it is broken down by
bacteria to short fatty acids, CO2 and H2. Bloating, cramps, osmotic diarrhea
and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are the consequence and
can be seen in about 50% of fructose malabsorbers. Having made the
observation that persons with fructose malabsorption very often seem to
present not only with signs of irritable bowel syndrome but also with signs
of pre-menstrual syndrome and mental depression, it was of
interest to establish whether such an association could be demonstrated in
patients.
Fifty-five adults with gastrointestinal complaints of unknown origin (12
males, 43 females) were analyzed by measuring breath hydrogen concentrations
after an oral dose of 50 g fructose and were classified as normals or fructose malabsorbers according to
their breath H2 [hydrogen] concentrations. All patients filled out a
Beck s depression inventory - questionnaire. Fructose malabsorption was
detected in 36 of 55 individuals (65.5%).
Subjects with fructose malabsorption (DeltaH2 [change in hydrogen]
concentrations >10 p.p.m. [parts per
million] after fructose load) showed a significantly higher score in the
Beck s depression inventory than normal fructose absorbers. This was
true especially for females. Fructose malabsorption may play a role in
the development of depressed mood. Fructose malabsorption should be
considered in patients with symptoms of major depression or pre-menstrual
syndrome. Further studies are needed to clarify the background of this
association.” |